The Smoke Signal

Hermione Granger: This morning while I was riding my broomstick to first period, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the large, very detailed Mad Hatter cut out by the office.

Albus Dumbledore: But I was oddly disappointed at the sparse balloon decorations around the amphitheater. Where were the streamers and the witty posters that have symbolized past homecomings?

HG: The freshmen compensated for the lackluster decorations with a phenomenal backdrop. All the main characters from the movie were incorporated into it very well.

AD: The backdrop was very vivid and I felt like I was stepping into Wonderland, fresh off the Hogwarts Express. What’d you think of the skit?

HG: The freshmen had rare good luck with audio this year. Their voiceovers came through very clearly and were distinctive to the characters. My favorite characters were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who were charming and had amusing dialogues.

AD: But half the time I didn’t even know which character was speaking.

HG: That definitely caused a lot of confusion. The skit also came to a very abrupt end, and I felt like it was missing a solid conclusion. It also could have used more humor, and there were several awkward and dull moments.

AD: I wish they had used more props to get their point across, because the whole performance seemed a little bland at times. They also could have used music to improve the quality of the transitions between scene changes. I also noticed that several times a random person would run across the stage with a worried expression on his or her face, as if they had just eaten an Ear Wax flavored Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans.

HG: Although it did end very quickly, I liked that all the classes were given influential

roles in the script, and the freshmen were shown in a positive light, unlike previous years.

AD: Yea there wasn’t any unnecessary bashing of other classes, and the challenges each class faced in Wonderland were clever and tied in well with our daily lives at Hogwarts… I mean Mission.

HG: Were there any airbands integrated in the skit? I hardly remember seeing any.

AD: Yea, I can only remember 5 airbands. I especially liked the fourth mixed airband, which tastefully included several aspects of hip hop.

HG: Another notable performance was when the trio performed “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars. It was a nice way to unite the classes before the freshmen started, and I heard several people in the crowd singing along.

AD: Yeah, but there were many awkward moments, and it took me a while to realize that they were not a part of the script. How about that spirit though? It wasn’t exactly contagious.

HG: That’s for sure. The freshmen could definitely use some work on the volume of their cheering and overall enthusiasm. A few upperclassmen could be heard yelling at the freshmen to cheer louder and support their class.

AD: It seemed like the sophomores, juniors, and seniors supported the freshman more than their own class, and were often cheering to fill in the silent gaps between performances. They could have used a couple of Howlers. Ultimately, I can see great potential for their airbands next year, and hopefully more class members will join in.

HG: Yes, as long as the class of 2014 unites more and has a larger variety of airbands and a longer more interesting skit, they can give the other classes a run for their money.

View Freshmen Day online photo album here

Check back this weekend for video footage on Freshmen Day provided by MSJTV. The full Homecoming DVD with behind-the-scenes features will be available for purchase.